Former West Henderson student dies in wreck

Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 6:27 p.m.

Lucas Cain Christopher, a 19-year-old graduate of West Henderson High, died in a car crash Saturday morning after Troopers say he lost control of his car on Newfound Road in Leicester.

State Highway Patrol Trooper B.N. Burnette found Christopher’s 2002 Mazda flipped on the roadside, nearly 0.3 miles west of Hookers Gap at around 4 a.m. He suspects Christopher, who was traveling east on Newfound Road, went left of center, overcorrected and ran off of the road.

Christopher’s car then struck a utility pole and “overturned several times,” ejecting him from the vehicle, Burnette said.

Troopers suspect Christopher may not have been wearing his seatbelt and that speed may have been a factor. Burnette estimated Christopher was traveling about 70 mph before impact. The speed limit on that stretch of Newfound Road is 55 mph.

Christopher was a student at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

<p>Lucas Cain Christopher, a 19-year-old graduate of West Henderson High, died in a car crash Saturday morning after Troopers say he lost control of his car on Newfound Road in Leicester.</p><p>State Highway Patrol Trooper B.N. Burnette found Christopher's 2002 Mazda flipped on the roadside, nearly 0.3 miles west of Hookers Gap at around 4 a.m. He suspects Christopher, who was traveling east on Newfound Road, went left of center, overcorrected and ran off of the road. </p><p>Christopher's car then struck a utility pole and “overturned several times,” ejecting him from the vehicle, Burnette said.</p><p>Troopers suspect Christopher may not have been wearing his seatbelt and that speed may have been a factor. Burnette estimated Christopher was traveling about 70 mph before impact. The speed limit on that stretch of Newfound Road is 55 mph.</p><p>Christopher was a student at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.</p>